United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Baseball

WORCESTER, MASS.--(4/19/08)--Scott McNee belted a two-run home run in the seventh inning and a three-run blast in the eighth to help WPI to a 7-3 victory in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep over visiting Coast Guard. Earlier in the day the Engineers took the opener by a score of 16-2.

The Engineers improve to 16-15-1 overall and 5-7 in the NEWMAC, securing a spot in next week’s six-team, double elimination NEWMAC Tournament. Coast Guard slips to 6-20 on the season and finishes 1-11 in conference play and did not qualify for the conference tournament. The Bears needed a sweep this afternoon to secure the sixth and final spot.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh of game two, McNee gave WPI its first lead of the game with a two-out blast to center. Coast Guard answered right back in the top of eighth inning when Christian George was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bill Birch and came home on a RBI single from Ken Franklin. The Crimson and Gray then delivered a four-run bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a leadoff triple from Paul Galligan, a run-producing single from Brandon Stacey and McNee’s three-run controversial three-run-homer to left field, which actually one hopped over the fence. The junior, who notched seven RBI in the sweep, now has nine homers and 45 RBI on the season.

Both pitchers were solid in the nightcap. Brian Duncan scattered six hits and three runs over eight innings for WPI to improve to 3-4 while Will Becker allowed four earned runs while going the distance for the Bears. The senior drops to 1-7.

In the opener, WPI sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 8-1 advantage. Mike Swanton delivered the big blow, crushing a three-run homer to right field just three batters in. Mark Dignum, Ethan Brown and Cody McGregor all collected a pair of hits and two RBI in the win.

Junior right hander Conor Fahey fanned seven over the first five innings to up his record to 8-1 while Alex Hansen and Jason Forte each turned in a scoreless inning of relief. Pete Schofield (1-5) was tagged with the loss for the Bears.

Adam Reckley registered two hits for Coast Guard in the opener while Franklin banged out a pair of singles in the nightcap.

WPI will open up the NEWMAC Tournament on Wednesday at 3:30pm. The fifth-seeded Engineers will travel to Norton, MA to face second-seeded Wheaton.

Coast Guard is off until April 30th when then will take on Mitchell in a doubleheader at Norwich’s Dodd Stadium to close out the season.